We flew back to Singapore for a short holiday on Monday morning, on a Tiger Airways flight from Perth.

The original flight departure was scheduled for 9.50pm. As we were checking in we were informed that there would be a two-hour delay due to technical problems with the aircraft in Singapore.

Subsequently, we found out that there would be another two-hour delay, bringing our departure time to 1.50am.

The aircraft finally arrived and we took off at 1.55am.

In spite of the inconvenience and discomfort of having to wait in the departure lounge, I would rather the airline erred on the side of caution and got us to our destination safely, albeit late.

I have been in the aviation line for 27 years and some of the ways things can go wrong on an aircraft boggle the mind. As I always tell my trainees, jets do not have hazard lights; if the engines stop, we drop. End of story.

Nobody likes flight delays, not those on the flight, not those waiting for friends and relatives on the flight and, I suspect, not the crew either as any delay puts time pressure on their next flight preparation.

So, in closing, I think we should be thankful that we are the ones writing letters of complaint about delayed flights and other inconveniences instead of relatives filing writs on our behalf.

Finally, may I suggest that some light snacks be served during flight delays? I know it is a budget airline but...

Timothy Tan Eng Hock